The Maldives National University (MNU) has inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) for academic and research collaboration between the universities. 

The MoU was signed by MNU Vice-Chancellor Dr Mohamed Shareef and CUSAT Vice-Chancellor Dr K N Madhusoodhanan at a meeting held at the Maldives National University. The meeting deliberated on cooperation and collaboration, especially in marine sciences, marine research, maritime law, marine engineering, R&D and academic strengthening. 

The MoU would facilitate capacity building for students and staff in both establishments in terms of knowledge exchange, collaboration on technical expertise and initiate with the support of the Maldives Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology. 

With the academic and technical support of CUSAT, it will also assist MNU in introducing maritime post-graduation courses. The MoU was signed in the presence of Aishath Shaheen Ismail, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at MNU, and Dr. Bijoy Nandan, Dean of the Faculty of Marine Sciences at CUSAT. The MNU deans of the faculties were also invited to a meeting.

Madhusoodanan and the delegation from CUSAT attended meetings with Munu Mahawar, the High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Maldives, S. Jaishankar, the Minister of External Affairs of the Government of India, Abdullah Shahid, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Maldives, and representatives of the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology during the two-day visit to the Maldives from January 17 to 18 that was made possible by the High Commission of India in the Maldives.

Future academic exchanges, collaborations, and mutually beneficial programmes and projects in marine sciences were all discussed.